4 Best Auto Transport Companies in Alaska For 2024

When the hauler hands over your keys, the excitement begins! But be sure to review the following before you hit the highway:

1. Understand Alaska Residency

Intent is part of the AK residency requirement. Intent includes being physically present in the state and the desire to stay in Alaska for an indefinite period. You must also:

• Show your employment status, with records to confirm.
• Show your vehicle is registered in Alaska.
• Show that you’re registered to vote in Alaska.
• Show proof of Alaska residential real estate ownership or rental with either a purchase agreement or a rental receipt.
• Show the signed contract of your household goods transport to Alaska.
• Obtain an identity card, even if you have a driver's license.
• Note: Alaska provides residents with dividends from oil trade profits. To claim these dividends, you must complete your residency requirements before January 1 of the year you wish to receive them.

2. Update Your Insurance to Comply with AK Laws

The state can impound your vehicle if you’re unable to provide proof of insurance. Failure to have the required insurance can also result in the suspension of your driver's license. You must provide proof of insurance within 10 days of entering the state or taking a job.

Alaska law requires the following minimum mandatory insurance:

• $50,000 bodily injury liability per person: If you’re at fault in an accident that injures another person, this insurance helps pay for their lost income and medical expenses resulting from their injuries. It can also help pay for your legal fees if the other party takes you to court over the accident.
• $100,000 bodily injury liability per accident: This insurance pays for any medical expenses for multiple people injured in an accident, regardless of the party at fault.
• $25,000 property damage liability per accident: This coverage helps pay for damage to another car or property in an accident where you’re the at-fault driver.

If you want additional protection, you can purchase:

• Collision insurance: coverage that helps pay to replace or repair your car if it’s damaged in an accident.
• Comprehensive insurance: helps pay to replace or repair your car if it’s stolen or damaged in an accident that’s not a collision such as vandalism, fire, or falling objects like hail or a tree.
• Uninsured motorist coverage: helps with expenses resulting from injuries or damage caused by drivers who don’t have insurance.
• Umbrella policy: this offers protection for those drivers who have high net worth and many assets.

3. Title and Register Your Vehicle

You have 30 days from the date of the sale to transfer the vehicle title into your name. If you’re establishing residency or working in Alaska, you must apply for vehicle registration within 10 days of entering or taking a job in the state.

For first-time vehicle registration, you must:

• Provide the current out-of-state registration.
• Provide proof of insurance.
• Provide the title (if there is no lienholder).
• Complete Form 812 Application for Title & Registration.
• Pay the required fees.

4. Obtain a Valid Alaska Driver License

If you’re at least 16 years old and hold a valid driver's license from another state or country, you can drive in Alaska for up to 90 days. After 90 days, you must obtain an Alaska driver license. Apply for your Alaska license at any DMV office. You must:

• Surrender your out-of-state driver license.
• Pass a written knowledge test.
• Pass a vision test.
• Provide proof of your legal name, date of birth, current residence address, and social security number.
• Pass an alcohol and drug awareness test when you reach age 21.

Applicants who have a current license from a country other than Canada or a US Territory must pass a road test and pay $15 for the test.

5. Purchase a Toll Pass for Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel, AKA Whittier Tunnel

The only toll charged in Alaska is for the Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel east of A-1 on the Portage Glacier Road to Whittier. This unique one-lane road shares the tunnel with the railroad and has scheduled access times. The purchased toll is for a round trip.

• For vehicles not pulling a trailer, a single ticket is $13, a book of 30 tickets $247.50, or a seasonal pass costs $605.
• Cars pulling trailers will pay $22 for a single ticket, $495 for a book of 30 tickets, or $990 for a seasonal pass.

Looking to ship your vehicle to Alaska from another part of the country? Caravan Auto Transport’s network of vetted, licensed, and insured auto transporters offer safe, efficient auto or truck transport to your destination without running up the miles on the odometer. These reputable Alaska car shipping companies provide the following services:

Open Car Transport

The most common method of car transportation, open transport carriers are ideal if you’re looking for an affordable shipping option with speedy delivery. As the name suggests, your car is loaded onto an open-air trailer along with several other vehicles headed to the same destination.

Enclosed Auto Transport

If you desire enhanced security or protection for your vehicle, you may wish to arrange enclosed carrier shipping. Inside a covered trailer, your car has protection from harsh weather conditions and road hazards like dust and dirt. Shipping your vehicle in a closed carrier also enhances its safety during transit by keeping the car concealed.

Door-to-Door Car Shipping

With a door-to-door car shipping service, you choose the desired pick-up and drop-off locations rather than having to arrange getting your vehicle to or from a transport terminal. Door-to-door shipping is the most convenient choice for shipping your car to or from Alaska, saving you time and effort.

Expedited Shipping

In a hurry to get your car from one location to the next? Upgrading to expedited shipping ensures a seamless pick-up and drop-off of your vehicle on your schedule. As a priority customer, you receive fast, timely service so you can be driving Alaskan roads that much faster.

Classic and Antique Car Transport

When it comes to transporting a classic car to or from Alaska, you want an auto transport company that can deliver your vehicle without a single dent or scratch. From vintage Mustangs to antique DeVaux Sports Coupes, our network of classic auto transporters has the expertise and equipment to transport your classic or antique car safely, so it arrives in pristine condition.

High End and Luxury Auto Shipping

Exotic car transporters use specialty equipment, like hydraulic lifts and sophisticated tie-downs, along with enclosed trucks, to keep your valuable car safe during every mile of transit. An enclosed car hauler ensures the ultimate protection for your high-end or luxury vehicle, protecting it from dirt, dust, and debris along the way.

Driving your car to Alaska will put several thousand miles on your odometer, plus it’ll require several days of your precious time to get there. Whether you’re heading north to explore Alaska for the summer or are moving for a new job, there are numerous reasons you may be interested in shipping your car or truck to or from the Last Frontier. Caravan Auto Transport’s network of auto shippers streamlines the car hauling process no matter your reason for transporting your vehicle to or from AK.

Moving and Relocation

When moving cross-country or out-of-state, many people choose to ship their cars rather than add a long road trip to an already stressful and exhausting relocation experience. Leave the logistics of moving your car in the hands of professionals with either open or enclosed vehicle shipping services.

Seasonal Work

Alaska has one of the most seasonal workforces in the country. Do you fly to Alaska for summer work in tourism, fishing, or fish processing? A vehicle transporter is the most convenient and easiest way to get your car to Alaska, so you don’t have to make the arduous 2,000+ mile drive.

Military

Alaska has nine military bases. The largest, Elmendorf Air Force Base and Fort Richardson, are in the Anchorage area, and Fort Wainwright is near Fairbanks. If you’re one of the brave men and women serving our country, we’re happy to serve you with top-notch automobile transportation to or from Alaska.

Online Car Buyers

Whether you’ve found the perfect vehicle on Craigslist, eBay, or AutoTrader, you may need some assistance getting it home, especially if it’s sitting on the other side of the country. Instead of flying out to pick it up and putting hundreds or thousands of miles on the odometer just to get it to your driveway, arrange for a hauler to transport your new car for you.

College Students

From the University of Alaska to Alaska Pacific University, Alaska has no shortage of top-tier colleges and universities for those seeking to further their education. If you have a college student moving to Alaska from out-of-state (or vice versa), have their vehicle shipped straight to campus with a fast, affordable auto transport service.

On average, it costs between $1,400 to $2,200 to ship a car to Alaska. Anticipate paying around $1 per mile for the first 1-500 miles, then approximately $.75 for every mile after that. Several factors influence the final cost of shipping your vehicle, including the origin and destination zip codes, the method of transport (open vs. enclosed), speed of shipment, type of vehicle, and the time of year. The best way to get an accurate estimate of car shipping costs is by requesting free quotes from our network of auto transport companies.